Posted on 04/11/2015 2:48:38 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter
Teenagers who work enjoy numerous benefits. As Ron Lieber argues in his new book, “The Opposite of Spoiled,” they learn how to appropriately handle bosses, co-workers, and money, and they might learn something about what they’re good at. Lieber’s message is timely, because working teenagers are rapidly disappearing.
Data from the Current Population Survey show that the share of 16- to 19-year-olds who were neither working nor looking for work each March has risen around 15 percent since the late 1990s. Part of that is due to lower demand for their labor, but the trend was strong even before the 2008 economic crash.
High-school-age teenagers who have jobs during the school year largely work part time. But few do anymore: In the late 1990s, 23 percent of 16-year-olds had a part-time job in March. In 2011 to 2013, just 9 percent did.
Teens from affluent families are more likely to work during the school year. Sixteen and 17-year-olds whose families earn more than $68,000 are 50 percent more likely to be working or looking for work than teens from families making less than $21,000. (For these comparisons, we subtracted the teen’s wages from family income.)
Recent high school graduates have experienced a similar decline in full-time work. Those ages 18 and 19 are about half as likely to work full time in March as 18- and 19-year-olds in the late 1990s.
The decline of work—especially full-time work—has continued through the college and early career years. The share of 30-year-olds neither working nor looking for work rose 23 percent over the period studied. There has been a slight rise in educational attainment, which explains some of the decline in work. But neither higher education nor higher unemployment rates can fully explain the trend away from young people working.
For teens and twentysomethings, skipping the labor market often results in permanently lower earnings. It may also deprive them of the opportunity to hector the next generation about not working hard enough.
Originally published in The Wall Street Journal
The Chinese and Indian restauranteurs seem to do a pretty good job with the language. If it's something I can make myself, why go to a restaurant?
If I couldn't communicate with the server, I'd tell them, and then walk out. Same goes for a disease-ridden wait-perthson.
My 15 year old homeschooled daughter has developed an impressive ability to create Pinterest graphics for bloggers. She just spent $550 of her earnings to buy her first DSLR camera with a couple of lenses. Once school is out, we’ll market her business and there’s no limit as to what she can earn by the time school starts again in the fall.
That’s pretty much my take on it too.
Your point about the Chinese and Indian workers is a good one. Any guesses why? It’s because they aren’t dedicated to Reconquista. They actually plan to assimilate and become a diehard U. S. Citizen, respecting U. S. laws and everything else citizens do.
I had so much trouble trying to find legal employees in the 90's and then having to take crap from people who complained about all the Hispanics while at the same time telling their kids that Fast Food was for losers. That was part of the reason I dumped a really good paying job and went into construction, I got burned out working with the public. California parents were in a good part responsible for our situation by denigrating entry level jobs rather than tell their children that the jobs were part time and a learning experience, not a career (unless like me you were overseeing three locations and being payed well to do it).
Based upon the teenagers I have encountered in the past 22 years, I would NOT hire any of them to even water my horses.
yep, Americans have been replaced.
I’m glad that I grew up when the “tredmill” wasn’t necessary for kids.
I agree.
And they have a pretty good Mexican restaurant up here where the owner is “hispanic” but an All-American guy.
My three oldest grandchildren,high school and college age,all have part time jobs. One even has a job at her out-of-state college.
They kept at it until they got one.
.
I’m glad to hear it.
We have grounds people here on the property. The dad of the family that does the work is a guy going back decades, and he sounds just like any American talking about what is taking place.
There are plenty of good people of Mexican ancestry, here in the nation. I was married to a wonderful woman for 19 years, whose family was a good family. I had discussions with the family when we were together, her extended family, and they didn’t agree with what has taking place. They thought it was a rip-off too.
I’m just judging by what has gone on in my neighborhood. Grade schools that had been closed for 20 years started opening again and where there were a few kids they are now everywhere.
This was long enough ago that most would be teenagers now. Maybe the curve is slanted because of how many older people are still alive now.
I know. I grew up busy but nothing like today. One thing is that colleges are very interested in the well rounded kid. I guess that helps to accept some of the less “better students” if you know what I mean.
“affluent” kids are kids who’s parents earn $68000 a yr?....hardy affluent...basically probably trying to keep the lights on and good food in the fridge....
Illegals.
One thing I’ve noticed is that fewer young guys are working in the auto repair shops (the Jiffy Lubes and such) because those jobs have been taken by the older mechanics who were laid off when Obama closed down thousands of car dealerships and service centers in 2009-2010.
and the talk about all the illegals sometimes ignores the elephant in the room.....there has been a Spanish/Mexican presence here in North America for several hundred years...
RE: only 9% of kids working
Why is that a bad thing? Aren’t they all supposed to be in school?
Illegals and Lefty work place rules, including minimum wage. Teens don’t need to earn a ‘living’ wage. They need to learn how to make a living.
Thereby increasing income inequality.
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